from the Beginning

My mother and father were from a mountain town overlooking the glittering Mediterranean and the city of Beirut.  She was the youngest of several children.  Her father was a very good cook, and made most of the meals. Her grandmother was the village healer, called to sit with ill neighbors, who improved dramatically.

The youngest of seven, I used to creep into my parent’s room on Thursday nights, where mom would be sitting on the floor between the two beds quietly reciting her weekly prayers. The energy around her drew me. I sat quietly beside her as she whispered words from our holy book which sat open in her lap. It was magical.

I heard great-grandma’s amazing healing stories from my grandmother and mother. So, from a young age I learned that people can have healing abilities.

Dad's Life Takes an unexpected turn

Dad was bi-lingual and a law student, so a cousin recommended he apply to the position of vice-consul, and then consul of the Saudi delegation to Baghdad. He was appointed to go to San Francisco in 1945 to participate in the establishment of the United Nations. In 1947, he was appointed first ambassador to the United States and the United Nations, and later Canada, Mexico, and Cuba.

The family moved to Washington, DC in 1947 and were there until dad asked for a transfer in 1955.  The family moved back home. I was 2 months old. My mother, a high school graduate, had to quickly adapt to diplomatic life. She grew into and filled her role beautifully. She was an excellent cook, gracious hostess and a master story-teller with a wonderful sense of humor. Those traits won her close friendships around the world. Her skills as the consummate hostess flourished.

Our Role Model

Mother cared deeply about less fortunate people, reflected in her extensive charity work; loved children (they had 21 grandchildren and so far 30 great-grandchildren).

She was always teaching us something… sewing, cooking, knitting, or embroidery. She successfully published a 500-page compendium of Middle Eastern cuisine. This is how I gained my cooking skills.